The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-03-10

! 1t was early evening. The lamps were
beginning to shine out here and there
and men and women who had finished
their days work were hurrying home to
supper. The door of q neat little home
stood partly open. A man was near it,
evidently just starting out to begin his
work.
"I am sorry you have to go back to
night work" his wife was saying. She
J looked pale and troubled.
$50 am ], " he answered, "but never
mind, dear, perhaps it won't be long"
He kissed her as he spoke and went
out through the door. She looked after
him with heI eyes full of tears eff he
should begin again, she said, "oh, if he
shouldp
"Mmma," called tall, slender girl
from the room, ''come and tell me what
pattern to choose for fathers slippers; [
want to commence embroidering them
tonight. His birthday isn't very far of,
you know"
"Bertla and I are going to club to.
getber and get him that new book he
wanted, said another girl, evidently her
sister; GIVE heard him SPEAK of it and We
have money enough"
The woman turned and went into the
house and shut the door.
The man went on down tho street and
was soon busily engaged at his case,
away up III the highest story of tall
building.
His fingers went back and forth, back
and forth, picking up the bits of black
metal, setting up line after line of what
in the morning would appear in the great
daily. Out over the city he could see
the lights beginning to shine, and gradu-
ally the hum in the streets below him
grew less and less.
All about him were men working away
steadily at the bits of metal. He could
hear presses click, click, as they went on
with their part Of the work.
The gas hared. Now and then one of
the men spoke briefly, generally some
thing about the work.
Sone of them went to their coats oc-
caslonally where they hung on the wall
and drank from bottles in the pockets.
one offered his to the silent worker I've
side him, but he shook his head.
"What," called gay young fellow
across the room, 'you given up the
bottle, Nenson; what will Happen next?"
The men laughed.
The lights in the houses died out after
awhile, the noises on the street grew less
and less. The men went to their bottles
oltoncr and passed them back and forth
from hand to hand. Menson vas grow
ng tired. He was not as young as he
had been when he began to work at the
type, and the smell Of the liquor came
to him as he worked and grew moro and
more weary.
He longcd for one taste, just one, "to
help him out" 'to rest him." Yet,
when a lad near him took the bottle and
began to taste the liquor he touched his
arm and said: ."Don't, began at your
age; wanted to be smart; don't begin. !"
But the boy laughed and drank.
The hours went by and the presses
clicked louder and the noises on the
street grew less and less.
'Here, Menson," said a man, coming
across the room, "hero is some of the
best French brandy. Just taste it;
know you are sick tonight; it'll do you
good"
81 don't feel exactly WE'LL" he said,
seizing the bottle eagerly, "I'll taste it,
only taste it"
The fumes of the liquor had been
half -maddening him, his old thirst had
been crying out to be satisfied. He drunk
as eagerly rs he had seized it.
"Ihat is good brandy, " he said, giving
back the bottle
The man winked slyly at tho others as
he went back to his case
Menson worked on. He felt better,
he said to himself, the brandy had done
him good; and after while he asked
for another drink,
The man gave it and he drank as
eagerly as before. He had drank good
many times by the time the last line was
set up andathe men were making ready
to leave. 1T was early morning now and
the noises of that early time in the city
were beginning to be heard.
Menson went to get his coat but he
could not find it. Then he looked for
his hat, but he could not remember
where he had put it.
He stood holding on to the back of
chair, vaguely, wondering what he
should do about it, when the man who
had given him the brandy came up.
"Hello, Menson," he called out, "you
look as though you were getting up a
leader. Too late now for that, come on"
Menson endeavorcd to let him know his
dilemma.
"Where's your coat?" he said; he was
loud and noisy; "wheros your coat?
Blest if [ know"
ooh, here it is; let me help you on
with it. There you are, como on now,
the boys have all gone and left u.s."
They went over to the elevator. It
was just coming up the shaft. Away
down below thcm they could hear the
engine and at one side the presses,
stamp, stamp, as the great daily dropped
away fresh and damp from their jaws.
"Come on then, now my boy" called
his companion, as Menson hcsitatcd.
He drew him on, one bowildered and
confused, the other hilarious and loud.
The elevator began to move down the
shaft. Menson looked up and saw Il
| door.
"Hero's place" he said stepping out
toward it.
His companion caught his coat. 1t
came off in his hand, and as he stood
wildly looking at it, he heard, down be-
low him, something tall heavily
The great daily had a little item, n
few lines crowded into it's columns that
morning:
eve regret to relate a sad accident at